Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-09-02


why she was so, but tired with my journey |
soon abandoned all speculatons and fell
asleep
1t was warm May night, aud | suppose It
must have been the clear white moonlight fall
ing across my face that awakened me. ] sat
upright with strong, but utterly baseless
conviction that something strange and I'M
usual was occurring un der the roof of Rod
erick Lynton. listened, but save the whirr-
ing of insects in the night air, there was not
the faintest sound.
have ALWAYS possessed that physical cour-
age which is the reward, in part at least OF
healthy well-poIsed nerves. And so, lying
there wide awake, ] soon reasoned away Che
suppression which had seized upon me. Sud.
denly there came into my mind remembrance
OF the long, dark closet In my old chamber,
whose shelves were heaped with books, one OF
which might serve TO entertain me while
awake, or 10 make sleepy.
l slipped noiselessly out OF the door and
through the long hall, turning at GATHERINGS
chamber and entering my former room.
In the all-revealing moonshine everything
was oddly familiar But rs began to feel
the shelves for tire coveted books / noticed
with surprise that there were no traces Of
those recent repairs OF which my cousin had
spoken. Taking o pile OF volumes in my
arms tried, while standing at the window, TO
read some OF their titles. had made choice
OF one, and was just advancing to restore the
Others 10 their places when a noise coming
from the room directly overhead struck me
with dismay Some one whose footsteps were
slow, regular and unmstakabe, was pacing
up and down the floor, and moment later, ]
heard the sound Of low and smothered
groan. | made NO attempt 10 fly, but, sinking
down In the closet, gaIed with painful intent
ness into the gloomy hall, which now dared
not enter In order 10 regain my room.
The warning which Mrs. Lynton had given
sne flashed into my mind, and tried 10 scream,
To stir, to do anything which might arouse
the occupants OF the house TO a sense Of some
menacIng danger, but fear had deprived me
Of all power save that of staring helplessly
into the darkness.
AS looked, became conscious that some
one was descending the stairway. An APP
preaching step defined itself more and more
distinctly, though steslthily, and a feeble ray
OF light tinged the utter blackness In the hall.
Ere had fully decided upon the course this
horrfying visitant would take toward its fell
purposes, my heart gave sudden bound Of
relief
II was my cousin Dorothy herself, who, can
die in hand, came amouI the shadows must
have made some faint sound. for she paused
abruptly, half turned, as II .or flight, listened
an instant rresolutelv, then with the swift uu-
certain motion ~ Al afr shted bird, FASTENED
! toward her own chsmbcS. | caught one
! glimpse OF her fac, 80 blanch-d 80 troubled,
~ changed from it's drbonsx rosincss that
the words might have uttered died upon my
| lips
My cousin ,rothy, then, must be swsre "
! The presence Of tbs occupant ~ that upper
! chamber sharp psng % agnnZed doubt
tortured me At thl. conviction VINO could it
be, thus hidden under hospltable and
hitherto msst honorable roof, A.suredly Il
was not the master 81 the house. for ! heard
/ his half awakened u,tersnce a. | stole quietly
back to my room. Crawling into bed await
ell, shiyering. repetition OF these rnysterlou.
sounds, but the remoteness OF my chamber
doubtless rendered them inaudIabl-.
| heard them many times Afterwards; for q
singular fascination drew me nightly, In spite
Of myself, IN my former apartment. | sad
nothing conceruin. them to any one, az | felt
myself strangely bound u refrain from reveal
Ing my discovery 70 Mr. LINTON himself
But could not prevent \ cer,sin sense OF
! losthng "a | narrowly Watches during the
days that followed, my cousin Do;Dthy think
she dimlv OWNED something OF INV feeling.
aud suffered under IT, Certainly she grew
thin, and it va. clear that she vas mentally
much disturbed. Her changeful color the ncrv-
Gus starts she gave at fhe unexpected slamming
OF the door, or the crunch Of a football upon the
gravel, her covert scrutiny OF he, husband, al
proved 10 me that, for the first time In her
! life Mrs. Lavnton WAS cuncealirg something
that my cousin Dorothy had secret. Once
/ | made an effort 10 unveil tho the mytsery
for myself Creeping quietly up the long
stairs, | hoped 10 enter that forbidden room.
But the door in the hall leading TO 1t was
| locked, and the undsturbcd silence quite
shook my belief that it had been tenanted.
Ashamed OF .uspicions which already seemed
unworthy Of me- | went away, feeling half
/ guilty and resolved to dismiss the matter, as
| far as possible from my thought,
/ | had been month at Ernscliff, when,
coming in from a ramble, found talking "a
| Mr. LINTON, man whose speech contained an
| element entirely unfamiliar 10 iny ear He
turned abruptly at my entrance, revealing a
face clear-cut and handsome, notwithstanding
its extreme pallor which his hair and beard,
both black ana silky, served TO intensity
Miss LINTON. Mr.. Thanescourt," said INV
Cousin Roderick, introducing him.
The stranger fixed a grave look upon me,
from eyes OF a deep, fathomess blue, bowed
courteously, and resumed his interrupted con-
! versatiOn.
"The applicant for the vacancy at the acad-
eRy" explained my Cousin Dorothy, in a
swift aside.
! "A schoolmastcr! At all events, a tail and
stinguished-looking man." whispered.
She flashed quick apprehcnsiye glance at
RE, then serenely lifted her neglected knit
! ting.
do not know how Mr.. Thanescourt Induced
Mr. LINTON, not only TO use his influence in
securing the position he desired, but to re.
! ceve him as a boarder. 1t may have been
proof OF the magnetic power which the man
undoubtedly possessed, and, subsequently,
exercised impartially upon the entire house
| hold. I alone held myself aloof from him.